Over a million computers are stolen in the United States alone every year. The majority of these systems are laptopsHow To Prepare Your Laptop For A Case Of TheftHow To Prepare Your Laptop For A Case Of TheftThe great risk that comes with all portable devices is theft. Not only do you risk losing an expensive piece of hardware, a stolen laptop also contains private and potentially confidential data, for example photos,...Read More, but desktops can also end up the victim of a heist. Modern computers are relatively small, making them easier for thieves to walk out with, and computers are easy to sell on on eBay or Craigslists. Desktops also frequently disappear from the workplace courtesy of an employee who felt deserving of a bonus.

The tracking methods used to monitor laptops often don’t work with desktops, however, because so many of them lack WiFi and because they’re incapable of sending a signal so long as they’re unplugged. There’s not much hope of finding your desktop once it’s gone, but there are numerous effective ways to ensure it never goes missing.

Physical Case Locks

A physical lock is the easiest way to secure a desktop computer. Unlike laptops, which are difficult to lock if a lock mount is not already provided, a desktop can be readily secured in a number of ways. All of these methods restrict movement but, since it’s a desktop, that downside is almost entirely irrelevant.

A rudimentary locking system usually consists of a solid metal cable which runs through a loop on the desktop and a loop on an anchor point. The anchor point can be anything hard or impossible to move; a desk, the floor, a wall. Many products, such as the Kensington desktop locking kit, provide an adhesive anchor that can be used if a suitable anchors aren’t already available. Though not as sturdy as an anchor built into your desktop or mounting surface the adhesive is strong enough to deter most thieves.

Cables can be cut, however, so you may want to go with a lockdown plate instead. The plate is attached to a solid surface (like a desk) and then attached to your desktop PC with bolts. A lock is used, as well, to prevent removal of the plate without an appropriate key. Stealing a desktop secured with a lockdown plate is extremely difficult. However, you’ll probably need to drill holes in your PC’s enclosure and the mounting surface to install the plate, and this option is several times more expensive than a simple cable lock.

The final word in desktop security is a locking enclosure. These come in a variety of sizes, from units that only secure a single small PC tower to full cabinets that can house a full tower computer complete with monitor, keyboard, mouse and print. Locking enclosures can be used in conjunction with a cable lock or lockdown plate to prevent a thief from hijacking the locked enclosure and figuring out how to open it later. Going this route is effective, but plan on spending at least $100 to secure a small PC and several hundred if you want to secure a large tower and multiple components.

Alarm Systems

Lockdown plates and steel security enclosures work, but they are expensive and can take hours to install in an unprepared workspace. Alarms are more affordable and stop thieves with the most effective deterrent available; the threat of being caught. There’s essentially two types of alarms; self-contained alarms and alarm systems.

A self-contained alarm is a single piece of hardware with an alarm inside that attaches directly to a computer (or other device) with adhesive. The alarm then connects to a cord or cable. If the cable is removed while the alarm is still armed it goes off, alerting anyone in the vicinity. The best examples of these alarms can sound off for hours after they’re activated. Expect to pay around $100 for this type of alarm.

Alarm systems are similar in that there’s a sensor that adheres to your desktop as well as a cable, but the cable routes back to a central alarm box. If the cable connection between the box and the sensor is severed, or the sensor is detached from the desktop, an alarm will sound and the central box will send a remote alert. This could be sent to as a phone call, a text message or an email, depending on the system. These systems can cost hundreds or thousands to install.

Home users are obviously best off with a self-contained alarm. This option is less expensive than a full system and easier to install. Alarm systems are better suited for organizations that have thousands of dollars to spend and security staff that can respond quickly when notified of an alarm.

Webcam Deterrents

Businesses, governments and other large organizations can protect their computers with security cameras that deter any would-be thieves and help find those who go through with their desire to loot. Home users, however, usually can’t afford such a dedicated network of cameras. Fortunately the humble webcam serves as a surprisingly competent replacement.

Besides offering a look at a potential thief this software can discourage him by making it know that he’s being watched. No thief wants to step into a room and see an active camera staring them down, even if it is just a webcam.

Use Counter-Measures

There’s probably nothing that will stop a skilled thief set on taking your hardware, but most thieves aren’t skilled and don’t care whether they take your desktop or the one next door. As is so often the case you can dramatically improve your secure with even the simplest counter-measure. If you’re paranoid, though, you can drop a few hundred dollars on an alarm, steel enclosure and lockdown plate to turn your PC into a miniature fortress.

Are you worried about desktop theft and do you make any effort to secure your system? Let us know in the comments!

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HellO

February 8, 2017 at 9:39 pm

Seems like one of the easiest (and more valuable) things you can do to protect some of the smaller computers is to just get a cheap Kensington lock off ebay. Considering how small desktops computers are getting these days they could be as easy to nab as a laptop, (in-monitor and just plain small desktops).
If the desktop is cabled to a desk or just to bulkier equipment and/or the laptop is locked to the chain, I'd think that would be enough deterrent... (though I really like the idea of putting bolts through the bottom of the case and into the desk, awesome idea. Probably wouldn't be workable on the smaller desktops and plastic cases, plus there's the holes in the desk...)

Back up your data regularly - to an external drive in another room.
Buy a very shiny -for parts or not working laptop off ebay.
Build you i7 mega gaming buster with quad graphics cards in the oldest beige full tower box you can find.

and viola - theif steals shiny junk cos its lightweight and ignores huge beige box because it looks really heavy and old and not shiny ....

I personally own a lot of old equipment, so I'll keep the newer, more expensive hardware hidden and the older, cheaper hardware in plain sight. Your average burglar will want to get in and out quickly, and will therefore be less likely to steal the more valuable systems when there are others more readily accessible.

On top of that, most of my computers are configured with full-disk encryption to prevent any private data from being compromised. In many cases, stolen hardware is cheap compared to things like financial records and medical data, so making sure those things are inaccessible on stolen hardware is just as critical - if not more - as preventing said hardware from being stolen in the first place.

cheap way is to take off the rubber feet and then run coach bolts or screws through the rubber feet holes to the desk or sideboard with big washers so it more stronger and then get a computer lock on the back to a wall fitting then buy some computer security screws so no one can get in it unless they destroy the computer case or just get a old computer tower so people are less likely to steal it and put small weights in it to make it more heavy so steal it or if you like me just leave it and make sure you have a external hard drive so you so not lose all you data